“Can you fit me in as soon as possible?” I asked Rhonda, my favorite dental assistant. “I was chewing gum on the flight home from Denver when a piece of my tooth came out.”
“Can you come in next Thursday,” she offered and I quickly accepted, feeling guilty as I hung up the phone. I had been pushing my annual dental exam and cleaning back month after month until now it had been over two years since my last dental appointment.
“This tooth looks fine,” my dentist informed me. “The tooth looks great. I will just clean out this little hole and fill it up. Of course, first I’ll check the X-ray.”
I sighed happily. My daily brushing and flossing had done the trick. I was safe.
“Uh-oh.”
“Oh, dear.” My heart stopped beating.
“On the outside this tooth looks fine, but evidently, an old filling got a tiny crack in it and there has been leaking. The cavity is quite extensive. I’m sorry to tell you: it’s down to the root.”
“Can you come in next Thursday,” she offered and I quickly accepted, feeling guilty as I hung up the phone. I had been pushing my annual dental exam and cleaning back month after month until now it had been over two years since my last dental appointment.
“This tooth looks fine,” my dentist informed me. “The tooth looks great. I will just clean out this little hole and fill it up. Of course, first I’ll check the X-ray.”
I sighed happily. My daily brushing and flossing had done the trick. I was safe.
“Uh-oh.”
“Oh, dear.” My heart stopped beating.
“On the outside this tooth looks fine, but evidently, an old filling got a tiny crack in it and there has been leaking. The cavity is quite extensive. I’m sorry to tell you: it’s down to the root.”
Healthy on the Outside, but...
“This tooth looks healthy from the outside. If I didn’t see this X-ray, I wouldn’t believe how bad it is,” my endodontist explained as the two of us looked at my tooth on a large screen in his office.
I smiled weakly, awaiting the numbing and the drilling of the root canal that cost a ton of money.
My tooth was so full of rot under the surface that it barely survived. If I had gone to the dentist a month or two later, it might have been too late for a root canal and crown. I would have lost the tooth. God was gracious to me that I lost that tiny bit of tooth in my chewing gum.
My heart can be like this tooth. On the outside, I can feel loving and virtuous, longing to serve the Lord with all my heart.
But, something small happens that is uncomfortable. Maybe a friend betrays a confidence or a financial trial hits.
Suddenly, a tiny bit of something ugly is exposed. I can gloss over it or I can go to my Heavenly Father, asking him to expose the depths of my heart. Is there something rotten in my heart like bitterness or greed or fear that I don’t even know exists? Have I convinced myself that I am fine?
Once God shows me the problem, I can repent and experience His amazing forgiveness.
I smiled weakly, awaiting the numbing and the drilling of the root canal that cost a ton of money.
My tooth was so full of rot under the surface that it barely survived. If I had gone to the dentist a month or two later, it might have been too late for a root canal and crown. I would have lost the tooth. God was gracious to me that I lost that tiny bit of tooth in my chewing gum.
My heart can be like this tooth. On the outside, I can feel loving and virtuous, longing to serve the Lord with all my heart.
But, something small happens that is uncomfortable. Maybe a friend betrays a confidence or a financial trial hits.
Suddenly, a tiny bit of something ugly is exposed. I can gloss over it or I can go to my Heavenly Father, asking him to expose the depths of my heart. Is there something rotten in my heart like bitterness or greed or fear that I don’t even know exists? Have I convinced myself that I am fine?
Once God shows me the problem, I can repent and experience His amazing forgiveness.
Who Will Examine my Heart?
My tooth didn’t even hurt. Both doctors asked if I had pain. I had no idea my tooth was fill of rot. This experience has made me realize that I am not always aware of what is going on inside, under the surface. I want God to search me deep inside, to scoop out any rot, and fill me to overflowing with His Spirit.
“Search me, O God, and know my heart; Try me and know my anxious thoughts; And see if there be any hurtful way in me, and lead me in the everlasting way” (Psalm 139: 25-26 NASB).
I am committed to keep my regular appointments with the Lord, so He can keep my heart clean. I’m going to keep my dentist appointments too.
How about you? Do you need a check-up with your Heavenly Father?
Ladies, if you are interested in going deeper with the Lord, you will love Lovely to Behold: The Priceless Beauty of Godly Womanhood at Amazon. This Bible study will draw you closer to Jesus and show you how to walk out your faith in practical ways.
Be blessed every day, in every way.
Merey (Meredith Ludwig Curtis)
“Search me, O God, and know my heart; Try me and know my anxious thoughts; And see if there be any hurtful way in me, and lead me in the everlasting way” (Psalm 139: 25-26 NASB).
I am committed to keep my regular appointments with the Lord, so He can keep my heart clean. I’m going to keep my dentist appointments too.
How about you? Do you need a check-up with your Heavenly Father?
Ladies, if you are interested in going deeper with the Lord, you will love Lovely to Behold: The Priceless Beauty of Godly Womanhood at Amazon. This Bible study will draw you closer to Jesus and show you how to walk out your faith in practical ways.
Be blessed every day, in every way.
Merey (Meredith Ludwig Curtis)
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